Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1075747,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1075747/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 343,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "While we are discussing money, the Chair and Vice-Chair are aware that counties have not received up to Kshs82 billion and we are now in the month of June. I have a feeling that we are passing CARA in faith, as Christians and Muslims, because nobody wants to admit that the country is broke. We have no money to give counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it was anticipated, and I think it was the anticipation--- My interpretation of Article 219 of the Constitution, and the Chair alluded to this issue is that, when we allocate money to counties, that money should be ring fenced. That is the reason that once we passed Kshs370 billion, no one can reduce it to Kshs369 billion, even if the world was ending. Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, the suggestion by the Chairperson is that CBK, the custodian of our resources, ought to advance up to Kshs370 billion to counties in the next financial year irrespective of the question of collections or questions that are affecting the National Government. In the Division of Revenue Bill, the clause that says that counties will receive money and if there is a shortfall, the shortfall should be borne by the National Government, that should be made a reality. We are going to pursue this matter and I hope the Chairperson is going to be very steadfast. We trust him that counties can access money as an advancement from Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) without waiting for the National Treasury to pay the Chinese or other people. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, does it not surprise you that Kenya is divided into national and county. National Government is not broke for purposes of remittances but the county governments are broke. There are National Government projects. Where did the National Government get the money to do the sort of projects they have been launching throughout last week in Nyanza, for example, while counties cannot even do cattle dips? Are we are living in the same country? It is important that we think about the principles used by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) National Treasury, that they peep into the accounts and check. If Kirinyaga County has Kshs500 million they say do not give them money, give the money to Mombasa County yet in reality it is paper money. That money does not exist. That money cannot be accessed. We ought to find a method to put Treasury in check. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Chairperson does not confess that the CS of National Treasury has given us a runaround. He has been playing hide and seek with the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson until we are now on the Floor. Every time he is supposed to answer questions he runs away. Every time we want to find out why counties are not receiving money, he finds a good excuse to be busy."
}